A Waterloo man is facing felony drug charges following an arrest that occurred Thursday in Columbia.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department’s Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle after observing multiple traffic violations, a press release on Facebook states. The driver, Ryan D. Radomski, 27, of Waterloo, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine, cocaine) with intent to deliver. Police said he also had various prescription pills in his possession.

Radomski was arraigned Friday at the Monroe County Courthouse and the judge set his bail at $40,000.

A human jawbone found last month along the Mississippi River in Monroe County is being tested for identification.

Monroe County Coroner Bob Hill told the Republic-Times that human remains were discovered Dec. 19 by a person who owns adjacent property next to the Mississippi River. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department received a call on that date from a property owner who found what appeared to be a human jawbone and dispatched the coroner’s office to the scene.

“The person made the discovery of the human remains when walking the channel of the river,” Hill said. “They were able to walk this area due to the unusually low river levels.”

Hill said the bone was confirmed by a forensic anthropologist to be a human lower mandible.

This bone was sent to North Texas University for DNA analysis.

“Our main goal is to identify who the remains belong to in order to provide closure for the loved ones of the deceased,” Hill said.

The hope is to tie together this recent find with additional human remains discovered along the river in other area counties, the coroner explained.

(Editor’s note: Information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
Jan. 16
Mike R. Diggs, 20, of Waterloo, was arrested at 125 W. Legion Street on an in-state warrant related to a retail theft charge.

Jan. 18
Cody S. Haps, 24, of O’Fallon, was arrested at 104 S. Main Street on a Washington County warrant for assault.
The theft of four wheels and tires from a 2018 Dodge on the Royal Gate Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram dealership is under investigation. The theft occurred sometime between Jan. 15-18. Similar thefts were reported Jan. 8 at Quality Collision involving wheels on a Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Impala and Dodge Ram. Other wheel thefts were reported in December at Royal Gate and George Weber Chevrolet. Anyone who may have observed suspicious activity at these locations is asked to call Columbia police at 281-5151.

 Jan. 20
Curtis Walker, 47, of Park Hills, Mo., was arrested for DUI, speeding, improper lane usage, illegal transportation of alcohol, and on a St. Clair County warrant on I-255 northbound.

Jan. 21
Heather N. Leone, 41, of Columbia, was arrested for DUI and improper lane usage on Route 3 at Carl Street.
Crystal A. Whitfield, 26, of St. Louis, was arrested for DUI and illegal transportation of alcohol.

Millstadt Police
Jan. 11
The theft of money from VFW Post 7980 is under investigation. Illinois State Police was called to process the scene. 

Jan. 16
Steven T. Sutherland, 34, of St. Louis, was charged with attempted residential burglary, aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude police, and criminal damage to property following a Jan. 15 incident on Jotham Court resulting in a police pursuit that ended on I-255. Sutherland’s passenger, Savana R. Anderson, 31, of St. Louis, was charged by Cahokia police with resisting a peace officer, obstructing a peace officer, and unlawful striking of a police animal. She also had warrants out for her arrest out of St. Louis city and St. Louis County.

Monroe County Sheriff
Jan. 19
A burglary reported in the area of 2100 Ames Road is under investigation. Someone unlawfully entered the office of a dairy farm business and stole an undisclosed amount of money.

Jan. 20
The theft of a green mailbox from a property located in the area of 5700 Kaskaskia Road is under investigation.

Jan. 21
Ashley Jones, 32, of Cahokia, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant. 

Waterloo Police
Jan. 16
Troy J. Rayburn, 41, of Waterloo, was arrested for violating an order of protection in the 600 block of South Church Street.

Jan. 18
Shortly after midnight, a man called police to report that he was robbed of his wallet at knifepoint by a black woman with blue hair and tattoos while the two were together at the Super 8 Motel, 112 Warren Drive. The possible suspect vehicle was a grey Nissan pickup with Wisconsin plates and no front grill. Police were unable to locate the suspect vehicle, and subsequent calls to the alleged victim went unanswered.

The death of a woman found unresponsive inside a residence near Columbia is under investigation.

Police and EMS personnel responded shortly after 5 p.m. to a home in the 10000 block of Levee Road west of Columbia.

Monroe County Coroner Bob Hill said Rachael D. Campbell, 29, of Columbia, was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:50 p.m.

No cause of death was revealed during a pathological examination conducted as part of an autopsy on Wednesday, Hill said. Toxicology test results are pending.

The death remains under investigation by the coroner’s office and Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.

Funeral arrangements are pending at McFadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, Mo.

Police are investigating the battery of a man in Columbia early Wednesday morning.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department said a man was entering his semi-truck in the 400 block of Palmer Road about 4:40 a.m. when two unknown men punched him multiple times before fleeing on foot.

The suspects were described as being white males aged in their mid-30s, wearing blue jeans and dark hoodies.

Columbia police assisted in a search for the suspects, including tracking by a K-9 unit. The men have not yet been located.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 939-8651.

Information provided by the Waterloo Police Department proved instrumental in a fentanyl dealer from St. Louis ultimately being sentenced last month to nine years in federal prison.

Andre Walker was sentenced at U.S. District Court in East St. Louis on Jan. 17 to 108 months in prison for one count of delivery of fentanyl, with three years of supervised release to follow imprisonment and a $100 special assessment.

Facts revealed in open court at the sentencing and plea hearings established that Walker sold 324.8 grams of fentanyl between August 2016 and April 2017. Agents also discovered a makeshift manufacturing operation at Walker’s home, court information states, where he measured fentanyl into individual capsules.

Additionally, Walker was arrested in this case while he was in possession of 89.4 grams of pre-packaged fentanyl, more than $3,000 in cash, and a loaded .40 caliber handgun, with a bullet in the chamber and an extended magazine containing 19 bullets. 

The WPD received information on Walker while investigating a 30-year-old woman’s fatal drug overdose in November 2016, Waterloo Deputy Police Chief Jeff Prosise said.

Waterloo police turned this information over to agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, who conducted an investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek J. Wiseman prosecuted the case.

Christian A. Cunningham

A local man was arrested on two felony counts of residential burglary following recent incidents at a home in Columbia.

Christian A. Cunningham, 23, of Columbia is alleged to have unlawfully entered a home in the 200 block of Divers Street during the evening of Jan. 27 and again late Friday morning.

While away from home, the homeowner apparently observed Cunningham inside his residence via security camera shortly before noon and called police, according to emergency radio dispatch. It is believed the homeowner knew the suspect.

Columbia police took Cunningham into custody about 3:30 p.m. Friday in the 600 block of East Cherry Street. He remains in the Monroe County Jail in Waterloo with bond set at $40,000.

Cunningham was placed on probation in November 2016 following his felony conviction in Monroe County for possession of a controlled substance (heroin).

Monroe County continues to rate among the safest places to live in all of Illinois, as evidenced by a new list announced Monday giving high marks to both Waterloo and Columbia.

The National Council for Home Safety and Security announced its list of “Safest Cities in Illinois for 2018” on alarms.org.

Waterloo ranked fourth on this year’s list, down slightly from the top overall ranking in 2017. Columbia, which did not crack the top 50 last year, ranked 19th on this year’s list.

Waterloo reported three violent crimes and 34 property crimes. Columbia reported just one violent crime and 79 property crimes. Both cities have populations slightly greater than 10,000.

Waterloo and Columbia are the only two metro-east cities in the top 20, the next such community being Glen Carbon at 23rd.

The National Council for Home Safety and Security is a trade association comprised of home security professionals. The council advocates for safe communities and home safety with a strong focus on community involvement.

 To identify the safest cities in Illinois, the council reviews FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics along with its own population data and internal research. 

The cities were ranked based on number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) and property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) per 1,000 people. 

These variables are then weighted, with violent crimes accounting for 1.5 more of the total (due to their severity) than property crimes.

(Editor’s note: Information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
Jan. 22
Mirela Dedic, 19, of St. Louis, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant for aggravated battery.

Jan. 24
Frank L. Porter, 30, of St. Louis, was arrested for a St. Clair County warrant on northbound Route 3 at North Main Street.

Shelby W. Culpepper Jr., 25, of Columbia, was arrested for domestic battery in the 500 block of North Main Street.

Jan. 25
Marlene J. Daab, 69, of Columbia, was arrested for retail theft at Ace Hardware, 229 N. Main Street, after allegedly stealing several items from the store.

Jan. 27
Lindsey K. Weilbacher, 32, of Millstadt, was arrested for DUI on Kalowsky Street at Rapp Avenue.

Jan. 28
James F. Herrmann, 46, of Columbia, was arrested for domestic battery on South Main Street at Plum Street.

Millstadt Police
Jan. 12
Shortly after 10 p.m., police responded to a disturbance between a male juvenile and his girlfriend. The incident allegedly began at a residence in Waterloo, continued while traveling in a vehicle, and ended at the male’s residence. A report has been forwarded to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.

Jan. 21
Connie J. Christie, 52, of Sparta, was charged with resisting a peace officer following an incident on Sappington Court.

Jan. 26
Police responded to Ott’s Tavern, 20 E. Washington Street, for a woman creating a disturbance. Upon investigating it was determined the suspect had struck the business owner. While the female was being arrested, she pushed the officer and jerked and pulled away from him. Cynthia L. Dori, 59 of Millstadt, was charged with battery, disorderly conduct and resisting a peace officer.

Monroe County Sheriff
Jan. 23
Jose Serrano, 29, was arrested on Ames Road at MM Road for an outstanding immigration warrant.

Jan. 24
Hope M. Jennings, 22, of Waterloo, was arrested in Columbia on a St. Louis County warrant.

Jan. 25
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department’s Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Unit stopped a vehicle on Route 3 at Quarry Road after observing traffic violations. The driver, Ryan D. Radomski, 27, of Waterloo, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine, cocaine) with intent to deliver. Police said he also had various prescription pills in his possession.

Jan. 27
Ian M. Kossina, 31, of Waterloo, was arrested for DUI and improper lane usage on Route 3 at EE Road.

Trey Gillespie, 23, of St. Louis, was arrested on a felony Monroe County warrant for aggravated fleeing or eluding police stemming from an April 23 incident.

Adam Beaston, 39, of New Athens, was arrested for DUI on North Market Street in Waterloo.

Jan. 28
Traffic was shut down between Waterloo and Columbia for several hours after a suspected drunk driver crashed into a power pole along Route 3 just north of Hanover Road shortly before 2:30 a.m., resulting in a downed pole and wires across the roadway. Multiple vehicles struck the downed pole, with one 35-year-old female transported to Red Bud Regional Hospital for treatment of whiplash. 

Waterloo Police
Jan. 23
A retail theft reported at Walmart is under investigation. The alleged theft occurred Jan. 19.

Jan. 24
The report of a possible criminal sexual assault in the 700 block of Illinois Avenue is under investigation.

Jan. 26
The report of a possible criminal sexual abuse case in the 300 block of East Fourth Street is under investigation.

Police are investigating a forgery that took place Monday at a Columbia bank.

Columbia police said that shortly after noon, a maroon Ford Edge occupied by two white females delivered what was later determined to be a forged document to a teller in the Reliance Bank drive-through to obtain an undisclosed amount of cash. The bank is located at 180 Admiral Trost Drive.

The incident was not reported to police until shortly after 2 p.m.

Columbia police said similar incidents involving the same description of suspects were reported to authorities in St. Louis County and other Missouri agencies on Monday.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Columbia Police Department at 281-5151.

The alleged battery of a man early Tuesday morning in the Schaefer Trucking parking lot at 460 Palmer Road in Columbia is under investigation.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department said the man reported to police that at about 5:45 a.m., he was attacked from behind by two unidentified men and robbed of a small amount of cash and a debit card. The men ran away on foot, with no suspect vehicle seen.

The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained in the attack.

This is the second such incident at that location in two weeks. At about 4:40 a.m. Jan. 31, a man entering his semi-truck for the day was attacked by two men before they fled on foot. The suspects were described at that time as being white males aged in their mid-30s, wearing blue jeans and dark hoodies.

Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 939-8651.

Pictured is the scene of Wednesday’s crash on Route 3 south of Waterloo. (Alan Dooley photo)

Morning rush hour traffic was tied up following a two-vehicle crash that occurred about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday in the area of 5151 State Route 3 near the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses Church south of Waterloo.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Monroe County EMS and Waterloo Fire Department responded to the scene.

The vehicles involved were a small white Buick SUV and a Weir Parts Center delivery truck. Both were traveling north on Route 3 when the crash occurred. A woman in the Buick SUV was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of injuries.

Rain was falling in the area at the time of the crash.

(Editor’s note: Information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police

Feb. 3

Jason E. Greene, 47, of Plainfield, was arrested for DUI and unlawful screeching of tires on Centerville Road at South Main Street.

Feb. 4

Scott Kremmel, 26, of Columbia, Mo., refused medical transport after the Jeep Cherokee he was driving on the Route 158 ramp to Route 3 lost control on an icy patch, struck a concrete median and overturned shortly before 4 p.m. 

Monroe County Sheriff

Jan. 30

Lonnie D. Pearson, 54, of Kirkwood, Mo., was transported from the Department of Corrections in Pacific, Mo., on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant for five counts of child pornography issued in 2016.

The possible theft of a Sig Sauer P238 pistol and two magazines from a closet inside a home in the 6700 block of Martini Road is under investigation.

Jan. 31

A man who was getting his semi-truck ready for the work day in the 400 block of Palmer Road in Columbia about 4:40 a.m. was punched and struck multiple times by two unknown men before they fled on foot. The suspects were described as white males aged in their mid-30s, wearing blue jeans and dark hoodies. Columbia police assisted in a search for the suspects, including tracking by a K-9 unit, but the men were not located.

Darrel Holmes, 40, of St. Louis, was arrested on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant.

Bruce Boyer, 53, of Waterloo, was arrested for DUI, driving while license suspended and improper lane usage on West Fourth Street at South Moore Street in Waterloo.

Feb. 2

Jeremiah Matthews, 20, of Waterloo, was cited for harassment by electronic device and harassment by telephone.

Feb. 3

Gerald W. Woods, 44, of St. Louis, was arrested on a Missouri parole violation. 

Feb. 4

The theft of drills and other tools from a garage in the area of 2100 KK Road is under investigation. 

Waterloo Police

Jan. 29

Vince C. Gagliardi, 21, of Waterloo, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance at U-Gas. Also arrested was Shyann Baker, 21, of Waterloo, on a Monroe County warrant.

Jan. 31

Brandon L. Pegg, 19, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Randolph County warrant and for driving while license suspended at Burger King.

Feb. 1

Robert Bergman, 36, of Waterloo, was arrested on two counts of violating an order of protection in the 600 block of Mark Drive.

A fight between students at Waterloo High School is under investigation.

Feb. 2

A retail theft at Dollar General, 727 N. Market Street, is under investigation.

Feb. 3

Jason Hanner, 34, of Bunker Hill, was arrested for fleeing or attempting to elude police and for two counts each of speeding and improper lane usage on Route 3 at Vandebrook Drive.

Feb. 5

The reported fraudulent transfer of $1,500 in funds to a Paypal account and theft of computers from Sidebarr Technologies, 650 N. Market Street, is under investigation.

Feb. 6

Gregory Phillips, 47, of Waterloo, was cited for illegal transportation of alcohol, improper lane usage and no insurance on North Market Street at Route 3.

Kodi A. Lafore

A Waterloo man already facing involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the Jan. 6 stabbing death of a man near Red Bud is now also being charged with murder.

On Thursday, Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker announced that Kodi A. Lafore, 22, of Waterloo, is being charged with second degree murder in the case.

Court information alleges that LaFore “stabbed Adam J. Sesto in the upper body with such force knowing such act created a strong probability of great bodily harm to Sesto, thereby causing the death of Sesto, when at the time of the killing, Lafore believed the circumstances of his actions were justified by the affirmative defense of self-defense, but his belief was unreasonable.”

In light of the heightened charge, Walker also filed a motion to increase Lafore’s bail in the case. LaFore was arrested in Waterloo on Jan. 7 and posted bond (10 percent of $5,000) on the involuntary manslaughter charge to be released from the Randolph County Jail in Chester on Jan. 10.

“The state is of the opinion an increase of bond is appropriate given the severity of the new allegation,” Thursday’s filing states.

Judge Dennis Doyle from Monroe County was assigned last week to preside over the case.

According to Randolph County police reports, an incident took place near the intersection of Huntfield Road and Blackjack Road outside of Red Bud the evening of Jan. 6, during which the 36-year-old Sesto was fatally stabbed.

Lafore has hired attorney Justin Kuehn to represent him in this case.

A Facebook page, Justice for Adam, created by friends and family of the stabbing victim currently has more than 1,100 followers.

Firefighters assess the situation following a Sunday house fire on Route 156 west of Waterloo. (Corey Saathoff photo)

The Waterloo and Valmeyer fire departments responded shortly after 4:20 p.m. Sunday to a structure fire at 3582 State Route 156 between Trout Camp Road and Old Orchard Lane west of Waterloo.

Heavy smoke was seen billowing from the house upon firefighter arrival. The fire was contained within a short amount of time with no visible damage to the exterior. The home sustained heavy smoke damage inside, however. The fire was called in by a passing motorist.

The residence is owned by Joe and Lisa Moore, who were not home at the time of the incident. Their pet dog, a boxer, was rescued from the heavy smoke by a firefighter who freed her from a latched crate inside.

(Editor’s note: Information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police

Feb. 10 – Gordon Underwood, 64, of Freeburg, was arrested for DUI and speeding on Admiral Parkway at West Park Drive.

Feb. 10 – Dianne E. Clark, 51, of Belleville, was arrested for DUI and driving in the wrong lane on Admiral Parkway at Bottom Avenue.

Feb. 12 – Shortly after noon, a maroon Ford Edge occupied by two white females delivered what was later determined to be a forged document to a teller in the Reliance Bank drive-through to obtain an undisclosed amount of cash. The bank is located at 180 Admiral Trost Drive. Police said similar recent incidents involving the same description of suspects have been reported to authorities in St. Louis County and other Missouri agencies.

Feb. 13 – Shortly before 8 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of Park Manor reported that a window in the rear of her home was broken out sometime overnight. 

Dupo Police

Feb. 9 – At about 3:45 a.m., a motorist driving on I-255 notified Columbia police of a woman waving her arms on the interstate. CPD officers eventually located her near the Columbia Quarry property just off the Dupo exit. She had blood on her and it was learned she had been in a rollover crash in the 1800 block of South Main Street (Old State Route 3). Julie N. Duggins, 23, of Florissant, Mo., was charged with driving while license suspended, no insurance and DUI, and was also arrested on a St. Clair County warrant.

Feb. 13 – Dupo and Columbia firefighters responded about 4:30 a.m. to a fire in an upstairs bedroom at 300 S. Main Street across from the Dupo fire station. The fire was contained to the upstairs area within a short amount of time.

Illinois State Police

Feb. 11 – Columbia police, fire and EMS responded about 5:40 a.m. to a pickup truck rollover on I-255 southbound approaching the Columbia exit onto Route 3. The truck’s passenger was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Icy conditions were reported on roadways due to wintry precipitation overnight.

Millstadt Police

Feb. 7 – Bobby R. Jeter, 44, of Mulkeytown, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of weapon (brass knuckles) by a felon and felony driving while license revoked in the 100 block of South Jefferson Street.

Monroe County Sheriff

Feb. 5 – Robert J. Wagner, 30, of Renault, was arrested on an Illinois State Police warrant.

Feb. 7 – Kaley Limpert, 18, of Red Bud, was transported to Red Bud Regional Hospital by family for treatment of injuries sustained in a crash about 7:40 a.m. in the area of VV Road near McBride Road. Her 2000 Toyota Celica lost control on the snow-covered road, went off the roadway and struck several trees.

Feb. 9 – Sarah Aldridge, 40, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

Feb. 10 – Michael Lance, 58, of Red Bud, was arrested for DUI and driving while license suspended on Main Street in Renault.

Feb. 13 – A man reported that at about 5:45 a.m., he was attacked from behind in the Schaefer Trucking parking lot at 460 Palmer Road in Columbia by two unidentified men and robbed of a small amount of cash and a debit card. The men ran away on foot, with no suspect vehicle seen. A similar incident occurred at that same location about 4:40 a.m. Jan. 31.

Waterloo Police

Feb. 7 – Jyrus L. Hogan, 37, of Smithton, was picked up on an arrest warrant for residential burglary stemming from an incident this past fall in the 800 block of Blazing Star Drive.

Feb. 8 – Floyd Posey, 76, of Waterloo, was arrested for violating an order of protection at Waterloo High School and at Schnuck’s.

Feb. 8 – Casey Renard, 39, of Caseyville, was charged with theft stemming from a Dec. 18 incident in the 1100 block of Lou Del Street.

Feb. 8 – Joseph Decker, 37, of Waterloo, was arrested for retail theft stemming from a Dec. 2 incident at Walmart during which a 50-inch Element Roku TV was stolen.

Feb. 9 – Robert C. White, 47, of Waterloo, was arrested on two counts of domestic battery stemming from a Dec. 8 incident at Gibault Catholic High School.

Feb. 9 – Zachary O’Keefe, 25, of Columbia, was arrested for DUI and improper parking in the roadway on HH Road at Moore Road.

Feb. 11 – Two doses of Narcan were administered by a WPD officer to revive a person following a suspected drug overdose in the 600 block of Mark Drive shortly after 3:40 a.m. The patient was transported to an area hospital.

For the thousands of people in the southern Florida community affected by a tragic high school shooting, Valentine’s Day will forever mark the worst day of their lives.

Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Nikolas Cruz allegedly walked into the school in Parkland, Fla., last Wednesday and opened fire with an AR-15 rifle, killing 17 people and injuring at least a dozen more. 

Police said he hid additional magazines in his vest and backpack. Following the incident, Cruz, 19, has been charged with 17 counts of murder. 

Cruz had previously been expelled for disciplinary reasons from the school where he was described as a social pariah. After the death of his mother, he had been adopted by a friend’s family.

Details about the shooter have since emerged, showing a pattern of warning signs and troubling behavior. The FBI received a tip before the incident about a YouTube comment from a “Nikolas Cruz” saying “I’m going to be a professional school shooter.” 

However, follow-up was minimal as the FBI states it did not receive any other indicators as to the individual’s identity. It is said Cruz may have been identified as a potential threat at the school and was not allowed to have a backpack on the premises as a student.

Cruz was diagnosed with autism, depression and ADHD. According to reports, the AR-15 he used to shoot up the school was purchased legally. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. said it had received several calls over the years about Cruz…>>>

Read the rest of the story in the Feb. 21 issue of the Republic-Times newspaper.

If you don’t already receive the paper, you can subscribe by calling 939-3814 or clicking here, or pick up a copy at any of these locations.

Pictured is the crash scene on Route 3 in Columbia early Tuesday afternoon. (Kermit Constantine photo)

A local mother was killed and her six young children were injured after their Chevrolet Suburban was struck by a dump truck shortly before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in Columbia.

The crash occurred on Route 3 at Veterans Parkway right outside of Columbia High School.

Columbia police and fire department personnel responded to the crash along with ambulances from Columbia, Monroe County and Dupo.

Monroe County Coroner Bob Hill was dispatched to the crash a short time later.

The driver of the Suburban, 41-year-old Emily M. Webb, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her six children were all transported to area hospitals for treatment of injuries ranging from critical to minor in nature. A prayer vigil for the family took place Tuesday night at Hope Christian Church south of Columbia.

The 2000 Sterling dump truck, which was hauling grain, was driven by 86-year-old Donald L. Eccher of Millstadt. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment of a minor rib injury sustained in the crash.

First responders initially requested an ARCH Air Medical Service helicopter to respond to the crash site but later disregarded it.

Emily Webb

Northbound Route 3 was closed near the intersection until about 5 p.m. as Illinois State Police performed accident reconstruction. Witnesses said the dump truck was traveling north on Route 3 and the Suburban was driving west through the intersection from Veterans Parkway when the crash occurred.

Webb homeschooled her six children. Her husband, Bryan, is a deacon at Heritage of Grace Church in Columbia.

Church members remember Emily as a sweet woman with a gift for making others feel comfortable and welcome at church.

A GoFundMe page set up for the Webb family has already received more than $30,000 in donations. To donate, click here.

Funeral arrangements for Emily are pending at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia.

Columbia Assistant Fire Chief Jim Broshears said Red Bud volunteer fireman Curt Guebert was driving south on Route 3 and witnessed the crash. Guebert jumped out of his vehicle and rushed over to the Suburban, using a knife to cut the seat belts and remove the children prior to EMS and firefighter arrival.